Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

  • 26 Mar 2026 - 19 Apr 2026
  • 07:00pm - 10:00pm
  • $34.90 - $49.90
  • The Capitol
Buy tickets
event header image

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival is one of the three largest comedy festivals in the world, alongside Edinburgh Festival Fringe and Montreal's Just for Laughs. Held annually in Melbourne, Australia’s comedy capital, the festival features a rich mix of stand-up comedy, cabaret, theatre, street performances, and more.

The Melbourne International Comedy Festival aims to discover, develop and showcase great talent for the entertainment and inspiration of a broad-based audience. The Festival values irreverence, inventiveness and creativity, inclusiveness and accessibility, freedom of speech and respect for all.

Each autumn, for three and a half weeks, the Melbourne Town Hall and surrounding precincts transform into a giant comedy hub. The festival showcases both local and international talent, offering something for everyone in a wide range of venues. The festival plays a key role in uniting the comedy scene, offering the necessary environment and promotional support while also creating and managing many of the venues.

Share

Upcoming events

peter-pan-capitol-1220x732.jpg

Ballet of Lights: Peter Pan in a Sparkling Show

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 16 Jun 2026 - 16 Jan 2027
Icon / Small / LocationCreated with Sketch. The Capitol

Experience Peter Pan reimagined with Ballet of Lights! Six performers in illuminated costumes bring this classic story to life through dance, light, and color.

cinderella-banner-capitol-1220x732.jpg

Ballet of Lights: Cinderella in a Sparkling Show

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 11 Jul 2026 - 12 Dec 2026
Icon / Small / LocationCreated with Sketch. The Capitol

After captivating audiences worldwide with Peter Pan, Ballet of Lights presents Cinderella! This classic fairy tale is reimagined in a ballet show where dancers shine in glow-in-the-dark costumes.

first-nations-futures-1220x732.jpg

First Nations Futures

Icon / Small / CalendarCreated with Sketch. 24 Aug 2026

In partnership with Now or Never and Yirramboi, RMIT presents First Nations Futures, a conversation exploring how new worlds are imagined into being through storytelling, visual language and acts of creative resistance. Featuring Allara Briggs Pattison, Axel Garay, April Phillips and Hayden Ryan, hosted by Amanda Haskard.

Load more
aboriginal flag float-starttorres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

Learn more about our commitment to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples